Machine for cutting solder rings and applying the same to the edges of can-caps.



W. J, PHELPS. 50mm RINGS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO THE EDGES OF CAN GAPS.

MAGHIHE FOR GUTTING Z QGQQQQ APPLIGATIONIILBD $123. 1908.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

2 SHEETS*-SHEET 1.

%*Lbmcooco W. J PHELPS. MAGEINE FOR CUTTING SOLDIER RINGS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO THE EDGES 0P CAN GAPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAHLZQ. 1908. L Y L Pabented 06b. 10, 1911.

2 SHEETS-BEBE? 2,

5' 5+1 van F07,

Wazzemzf A 7 W W 8 'lllllll llllh j WIQLEIJE 3. EHELES; 0F EALTEMCEEE, MAB-YIANE.

.lllihGHINE E03 QU'ETING MELDEB RINGS AND AyfLYlhl'G THE SAME TS THE "EEG-ES 01F CAN-CAPS.

incense.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lVALrsn J. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting Solder Rings and Applying the Same to the Edges of Can-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for producing solder rings and applying the same to the edges of can caps.

The principal object of this invention is to provide novel and practical mechanism for cutting the solder rings from long tube, said means being simple in its character and cooperating with any suitable form of applying mechanism. No broad claims however, are made in the present application to the general type of machine as the same will be found in co -pending application, Serial No. 413,312. y

In the accompanying drawings ligure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the ring forming mechanism. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of knife mounting. Fig. 7 is a sectional view theret-hrough.

Similar reference numerals designate corresp0 nding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

In the embodiment illustrated, a suitable supporting frame 6 is employed, on which is rotatably mounted. a conveyer or carrier table 7 provided in its upper side with a. plurality of recessed seats or female dies 8. Supporting brackets 9 rise from the frame and carry suitable die mechanism 10 for applying solder rings to the caps. This die mechanism may be of any suitable character. and is operated by a shaft 11 journaled in the brackets 9. The rotation of the table 7 is effected by means of a reciprocatory dog.

12, which engages in sockets or shoulders 13 formed in the periphery of the table, said dog being pivoted on a sliding link 14 that is connected to the lower end of a lever 15. This lever is .t'ulcrumed between. its ends, as shown at 16, and its upper end is connected to a link 17 operated by an eccentric 18 on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. full. filial.

application filed Ianuary 23, 1998. Serial No. 412,313.

the shaft ll. It will be understood that each. movement of the table 7 by the dog 12 will bring a new recessed seat or female die beneath the die mechanism 10.

Secured to the outer side of one oi the brackets 9 is a frame 19 in the form of a plate provided with spaced upper and lower bearing enlargements 20 and 21, the latter being carried by a depending arm 22. tubular guide 23 extends downwardly through. the: bearings 2t and 21, being provided with an upper flared mouth and bein fastened againstrotation by suitable screws or other devices 25 secured. to the upper bearing 20. A rotatable sleeve surrounds the tube 23 and preferably terminates short of its lower end. This sleeve has its upper end journaled in the bearing 20, and is provided with. a ilange 27 that pro-- vents the downward longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the tubular guide. To its lower portion is secured by means of a screw 28 or other device, a collar 29 that is journaled in the lower bearing 21. This sleeve has a driving pulley 30 attached to it phetween the bearings'and a drive belt 31. oper ating upon the pulley, passes around idlers 32, and is operated from any suitable source of power at a high rate of speed.

The collar 29 has a socket 33 therethrough, and fulcrumed in said socket, as shown at 34, is a lever 35. To the lower end of this lever is attached a slicing knife36 having a shearing out, While the upper end is pivoted to a link 37, which link is also pivoted to a reciprocatory collar 38. feathered upon the sleeve 26. A. bell crank 39 is pivoted on the frame 19 and one arm of this bell crank is formed with a yoke 40, which has suit able engagements in a groove 41 termed in the collar 38. The other arm 4:2 of the bell crank is connected by a pin d3 with a reciprocatory link a l, and this link 1s p1voted as shown at 4:5 to the lower end oil; an upright-lever 4:6 fulcrumed between ltS ends. The upper end. of the lever as is p1votedv to another link 47 having strap .48 that surrounds an eccentric 19 carried by the shaft 11.

The tube of solder which is to be cut into rings, is shown at 50, and is passed through the tubular guide 23. For the purpose of feeding this tube of solder, sets oi grooved rollers 51 are journalcd onv the upper por- 55 journaled on the frame tion of the frame plate the rollers of each straightening rollers 59.

'39 to swing downwardlv.

As shown in'Fig. 3, the tube of solder 50 has its'lower end projecting below the lower end of the tubular guide :23, being wholly unsupported, and said lower end is located directly over and very close to the path of movement of the recessed seats or female dies '8 of the rotary table 7. The mechanism' moreover is so arranged that when one of said seats or female dies is located below the die mechanism 10, another will be disposed directly beneath the lower end of the solder tube 50. When the parts are so located and the table is at a state of rest, the feed mechanism for the tube is stationary, and at this point, the link 44 is being 0perated to cause the yoke 40 of the bell crank This will carry the collar 38 in'the corresponding direction, which will cause the lever 35 to swin so that th'knife 36 will move inwardly lnto,

engagement with the lower end of the tube 5( Inasmuch as said knife revolved at a high rate of speed and has a shearing action on the lower unsupported end of the tube,

a ring will be severed from said lower end,

and this ring will drop directly by gravity into the recessed seat or femaledie 8 that is i located below the tube. As soon as the severing action takes place, the collar 38 is caused to rise which will swing the knife out of engagement through the tube, and when,

out of engagement, the dog 57 will operate on the ratchet wheel 56 to cause the partial rotation of the shaft 55, whereupon the feed rolls 51 will be rotated to cause a downward movement of the tube 50. This movement ght, about one-fiftieth of is comparatively sli an inch, but will bring the lower end of the tube sufficiently low to out another, ring when said knife again moves into coaction with the tube. It will be noted particularly by reference to Figs. 1 and 7 that the upper face of the knife blade is flat,'or in other words, that the entire body of said blade, which backs up or supports the knife I edge, is not disposed closer to the end of the solder tube than the path of movement of the knife edge. As a result, the knife cuts through the tube without compressing the metal in the end of the tube above it, while the ring that is tube, and while the 'in Figs. 6 and 7.

.collar 38, bell crank to cause the knife 36 being cut or sliced from the tube is so thinthat instead of the metal in it being compressed or crowded, the ring is bent or dished by the thickened downwardly inclined under portion of the knife against which said ring bears. During the period when the knife 36 is inactive, and while the tube is being fed, the table is rotated to bring another recessed seat or female die below said severing action is taking place, the die mechanism 10 is being operated to apply a ring to the edge of a. cap placed in the seat.

Instead of a swinging knife,

a reciprocatory knife may be employed, as illustrated In this embodiment, the collar carries 2. depending guide-way 60, in which a knife 61 reciprocates. This knife has a suitable pivotal connection 62 with the lower end of a lever 35 corresponding in all respect to the lever 35 above described. It will be evident that this knife being actuated by the same mechanism, will periodically and automatically sever the rings from the tube, and will obviate the curved path of movement which the knife 36 has. Inasmuch however, as the wall of the tube from which the rings are cut is only about threesixteent-hs of an inch thick, such curvature will be comparatively slight.

The rings cut from the tube are necessarily slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the tube. The thickness of the rings is uniform, varying less than onethousandth of an inch from each other,-the

. thickness being usually seventeen one-thousandthsflY/IOOO) of an inch.

The knife employed in both forms of the invention herein disclosed is of the nonrotatable type, that is to say, it has no movement independently of its supporting means, but is caused to revolve around the tube by the mechanism hereinbefore set forth.

In practice the knife is maintained at a speed of 1800 revolutions a minute. It is mounted on the lower end of a longitudinally disposed lever, which is connected. by 39, yoke 40, links 44, lever 46-, link .47 and strap. 48 to an eccentric 19, mounted on the shaft 11. As a result of these connections, the said non-rotatable' slicing knife is moved inwardly through the tube with a constant gradual, unyielding pressure and is returned in the same way. It necessarily follows that the movement of the knife with its support inward and outward is less rapid than the revolution of the support and knife about the tube. The path of movement of the knife is radial, both when moving in and out of the tube, and the knife describes the same path when cutting the ring as well as moving out of the tube to prepare for a new cut. It requires from six to ten revolutions of the knife with its support to completely mosses immediately into the ieceiver, which in the present instance, is s carrier table.

Tlietube is free and unsupported at its lower end, and no core is used Within the tube for the knife to cut against. In fact,

' no core or support for the tubecould be employed on account of die extreme thinness of the ring, as l have ascertained by u. practical lest of 25 machine.

l consider that I am the first to cut solder rings for can caps from u tube of solder.

The die mechanism employed in connection with the means for cutting the rings is of the type disclosed in my (Lo-pending unplicuiion, Serial No. lfiflQ.

From the foregoing, ii is thought that the construction, operation and many adventsges of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be ondorsiood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor deitu-ils of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. in a machine of ihe character described, the combination with means for supporting a tube of solder in a. vertical position, of a movable conveyer locsied therebeneeth and having aplurality of sec-ts in its upper side spaced from the lower end of the'tube, said seals being successively movable to positions to receive rings out from she tube, means for holding she who against rotation, a knife movable inio and out of engagement with the tube, and means for efiecting the movement of the iife to cut rings from the-tube and cause the some to drop by gruvilyinto the seats.

In a machine of the character described, ilie combination with means for applying solder rings to the edges of caps, said means including e rotatable table having a plurality of recessed seats in its upper side to i receive the cups, and die mecheuism movuble into end cuiof the seats, of means for suppoi-ling a lube of solder above the table in a vertical posiiion in line with the path of movement of the seats, means for effecting a step-by-step rotation of the table to suecessively position the seals beneath the tube and the diemechanism, means for effecting the downward movement of the tube, u knife movable into and out of coectiou with the lower eud of she cube, and means for .efiecting the movement of the knife to cut rings from the tube and them to drop by gravity into the seats.

3. in e machine of the charucier described, the combination. with means for holding a tube of solder, of a cutter, mechanism for revolving the cutter about the tube, means for moving the cutie! into and out of coaction with the cube, said means including a device movable in opposite directions, and means operated by said device for feeding the tube longihudinally.

4e In a machine of the character described, the combination with means forholding atube of solder, of a nOn rotetuble cutter movable into and out of engagement-with the tube, mechanism for revolving the cutter at a high rate of speed around the tube, means for moving the cutter into and out of couction with the tube, said means including on actuating lever, and means operated by said lever for feeding the tube longitudinally.

5. In av machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding atube of solder, of a, slicing cutter movable into and out of coaction with u tube ofsolder held by said means and i'evoluble about said tube, a. lever connected to and revolving with the slicing cutter, and a device having a pivotel connection with the lever forswinging the same and thereby moving the cutter.

(5. In a machine oi the character described, the combination with means for holding and guiding a. tube of solder, of a cutter revoluble about and movable into and out of coaction with a tube held by said means, a collar revoluhle about said guide, a link pivoted to the collar and connected to the knife for moving the same into and out of couction with the tube, and means for moving the collar.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with means for holding a tube of solder, of a. cutter movable into and out of coaction with a tube held by said means, a. revolublecoller movable longitudinally of said tube, a lever connected to the cutter, a. link pivoted to the collar and to the lever, and means for reciprocating the collar.

in a machine of the character set forth, the combinutlon with means for slicing thin solder rings from the end of a tube of solder, of means for feeding the tube to the slicing means, said feeding meansincluding rotary feed rolls, a shaft having a worm in constafnt. gear with the feed rolls, and means for effecting an intermittent opemlion of the worm shaft.

9. In a machine of ihechuructer set forth, the combination with means for slicing thin solder rings from u tube of solder, of means for ieeding the tube to the severing means, said means including rotary feed rolls geared together, a worm gem: connected to one of the rolls, a worm elicit constantly meshing upon by the knife.

of a stationary tubular with the worm ear and having a ratchet wheel, and a' 'og cotiperating with the ratchet wheel for effecting the intermittent movement thereof and of the worm shaft.

10. In a machine cf the character set forth, the combination with spaced bearings, of a tubular guide secured to one of the bearings and extending into the other, and a slicing knife journaleddn the second bearing and revolving about the guide.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a bearing, of a revoluble collar journaled therein, a knife mounted in the collar, means for operating the knife, and a tubular guide extending into the collar and held against movement, said guide constituting means for directing a tube of solder to a position to be operated 12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with spaced bearings, guide extending through the bearings, sleeve revoluble about the guide and journaled in said bearlugs, means connected to the sleeve for re-.

volving the same, a collar slidably mounted onthe sleeve between the bearings, a knife movable in opposite directions andrevoluble with the sleeve, connections between the knife and collar, and means'for reciprocating the collar.

13. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with means for securing a tube of solder with one end thereof free and unsupported, of a slicing'knife movable into and out of coaction with the unsupported end of the tube,means for revolving the knife at a high rate of speed about the tube to slice thin, endless rings therefrom, and means foreifecting the movement of the knife into and out of engagement with the tube.

14. In a machine of the character .set forth, the combination with a rotatable conveyer having means for holding can caps,

of die mechanism movable into and out of coaction with the can cap holding means to apply solder rings to the caps placed therein, means located alongside the die mechanism for holding a tube of solder with one end in line with the path .of movement of the can 'cap holding means and spaced above the same, a non-rotatable knife. movable into and out of engagement with the end of the solder tube so held, means for imparting to the knife a revoluble movement about and moving it into and out of engagement with the tube, and means for rotating the conveyer to carry the can cap holding means from the solder tube to the die mechanism.

15. In a machine of the character set forth, the solder rings, of means for holding a tube of solder with one end free and unsupported over the receiver, a slicing knife forfcutting thin rings from the end of the solder tube, and means for rapidly revolving the slicing knife about the unsupported end to sever thin endless solder rings from the tube and cause them to drop into the receiver.

16. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a receiver for the solder rings, of a guide tube located abovethe same through which a tube of solder is fed, and a non-rotatable slicin knife operating between the guide tube 31' receiver and re-voluble about the solder tube to sever thin, endless rings from the solder tube and cause them todrop into the receiver.

1'7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with means for holding a tube of solder, of a rcvoluble knife support, a non-rotatable slicing knife carried by the support and revolublc therewith about the axis of the solder tube to slice thin rings from said solder tube, and means conncctedfo the knife support and revoluble therewith to cause the knife to move into and out of coaction with the solder tube with a constant unyielding pressure.

18. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a guide tube through which a solder tube can befed, of a revoluble knife supporting sleeve journaled on the guide tube, a non-rotatable slicing knife carried by the sleeve and rcvoluble therewith to slice thin rings from a tube of solder passed through the guide tube, and a collar slidably mounted on the supporting sleeve and revoluble therewith, said collar having connections with the knife to cause thesame to move into and out of coaction with the solder tube, said connections being such as to provide a constant, unyielding engagement the combination with a receiver for ,with the tube by the said knife.

forth, the combination with means for su knife for slicingthin endless rings of solder from the end of the tube held by said means,

supporting means having a movement to carrythe knife into and out of engagement with the tube, the face of the knife that is opposed to the end of the tube and in rear of the cutting edge being disposed not closer to said end of the tube than the path of movementof the cutting edge, and means for revolving the lmife-supportiug means about the tube so as to carry the knife into engagement therewith.

20. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with moans for supporting a tube of solder, of a non-rotatable knife for slicing thin endless rings of solder from the end of the tube held by said means, means for supporting said knife, said knifesupporting means having a movement to carry the knife into and out of engagement 19. In a machine of the character set.

porting a tube of solder, of a n-on-rotatab e means for supporting said knife, saidknifemesses ra as eat, the face as as knife an is opposed to the end of the tube and in rear of the cutting edge being disposed not closer to said end of the tube than the path of movement of the cutting edge, and means ror revolving the kmfesupportmw means at a high rate of speed-about the tu e as an end over the receiver, a slicing knife for cut-- ting thin rings from the end of the solder tube, and means for rapidly revolving the slicing knife about the end of the tube so as to sever the rings and cause them to drop into the receiver.

22. ln combination with a receiver for solder rings, means for holding a tube of solder with its free end, where the cutting is to be elfected, wholly unsupported, a nonrotatable slicing knife for cutting thin rings from the unsupported end of the solder tube, and means for rapidlyrevolving the slicing knife around said end of the solder tube so as to sever thin endless solder rings from the tube and cause them to drop into the receiver.

23. A machine for cutting thin endless solder rings from a tube of solder, comprising means for holding a tube of solder, a slicing knife for slicing the rings from the free end of the tube, and means for revolving the knife around the tube while main taining it in a fixed position with relation to its revolving means, and means for forcing the knife inwardly against and through the-tube with a. constant, unyielding pressure and withdrawing it therefrom.

241. A machine for cutting thin, endless solder rings from a tube of solder, comprisiug means for holding said tube of solder, a slicing knife for slicing said rings from the free end of the tube, means for revolving the knife around the tube while maintaining it in a fixed position with relationto its revolving means, and means for forcing the knife inwardly against and througlrjhe tube with a constant unyielding pressure and withdrawing it therefrom, said knife having: a movement radially of the tube and describing the same path of radial movement when cutting and. clearing the tube.

25.. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a conveyor having means for holding. can caps, of die mechanism movable into and out of coaction with the can cap-holding means to apply solder rings to the caps placed therein, means located adjacent to the die mechanism for holding a tube of solder with one end in-line with the path of movement of the can cap-holding means, a slicing knife, and means for revolving the knife about and movingit'into engagement with the tube to slice rings from the latter and cause them to (110;; onto the conveyer.

26, In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with means for supporting a tube of solder and holding the same against rotation in a substantially vertical. position, of amovable conveyor located therebeneatb and spaced from the lower end of the tube, and constituting part of the mechanism for applying solder rings to can caps, paid'convcyer being successively mo able to positions to receive rings out from the tube, a knife movable into and out of engagement with the tube, and means for revolving the knife about the tube to out rings from the tube and cause them to drop by gravity onto the conveyor,

27. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with means for supporting a tube of solder, with one end there.- of free and unsupported and held from rotary movement, of a non-rotatable shearing knife movable into and out of coaction with the unsupported end of the tube, said knife being so connected. to the solder supporting means as to have relatively rigid longitudinal' relation thereto whereby the same distance is kept between the solder support and the knife at all times, and means for revolving the knife about the tube and about .an axis to which the tube is substantially concentrically disposed.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for guiding and holding a tube of solder, of a cutter movable into and out of co-action with a tube held by said means, a collar revoluble about the said tube above its outer end, a bell crank lever pivoted to the collar and carrying the said cutter, the latter being fixed to the lever and having no movenient independent thereof, and means connec ted with the bell crank lever for moving the said cutter, into and out of engagement with the said tube.

29. In a. machine of the character described, the combination with means for guiding and holding a tube of solder, of a noirrotatable cutter, means for moving the cutter into and out of coaction with a tube held by the said means, means for feeding the said tube longitudinally means for revolving the cutter about the said tube, the said means for feeding the tube being operated by the means that moves the cutter into and out of coaction with the tube and while the cutter is out of engagement.

30. In a machineof the character described, the framework having spaced bearings, a tubular guide secured to one of the its bearings and extending through the other, a collar journaled in the second bearing, a slicing knife rigidly connectedto the collar, and means for imparting a revoluble movement to the knife about the guide through the said collar.

31. In a machine of the character described, the framework having spaced bear- 1ngs, a tubular guide secured to one of the bearings and passing loosely through the other bear ng, a revoluble sleeve surrounding the tube, means for imparting a revoluble movement to the said sleeve, means for feeding a tube of solder through the said guide, a collar .journaled in the other bearing and rigidly secured to the sleeve, a cutter, and

-means for connecting the said cutter to the said collar and for causing the cutter to move into and out of coaction with the tube of solder,

32. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for supporting a tube of solder, of a cutter movable into and out of coaction With a tube of solder held by said. means and a lever arranged longitudinally of the said tube and carrying the cutter which is arranged transversely of the tube,

33.. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding a tube of solder, a non-rotatable knife for slicing thin endless rings of solder from the end of the tube held by said means, means for supporting and revolving .said knife about the said tube, said knife-supporting means having a. movement to carry the said knife into and out of engagement with the said tube, the upper face of the 'knife, or that face closest to the said tube,

being flator horizontal and the under face thereof having a downward taper, for the purpose set forth.

34; In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding a tube of solder vertically with its outer end free and unsupported, a cutter operating beyond Where the tube is supportedand acting directly upon the free and unsupported end of the said tube to cut thin 

